Removable tank heater



July 21, 1942- 2 w. c. ELZE 2,290,742

REMOVABLE TANK HEATER INVENTOR. ML TER C.' El. 2E

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lREMOVABLE] TANK HEATER Filed March 25, 1941 5 sheesLsheet 5 INVENTOR.WAL rs@ C. E/ zs A Tom/Ex Patented July 2l, 1942 orric HauckManufacturing Company,

Brooklyn,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 25, 1941, Serial No.385,059 5 claims. (C1. 126-360) The invention relates to meltingapparatus, more especially to melting kettles for bituminous materialsas tar, asphalt, and the like, and designed usually for highwaymaintenance, paving, roong, and waterproofing and like operations. Thepresent invention is concerned more especially with kettles of thisnature including a removable and submersible type of heating un'itadapted to iit within the receptacle of the kettle. Such unit comprisesa system of heating ues designed when in operation to be totallyimmersed in molten material of the receptacle, together with a separateburner removably carried thereby in an enclosing well and so associatedtherewith as to introduce a ame or heated gases into the flue system atone end thereof, said flues extending substantially longitudinally ofthe receptacle.

It is an object of the present invention to aiford a novel type ofheating unit of this nature, more especially with respect to the exhaustportion oi` the iue system whereby to increase the thermal eniciency ofthe kettle. a

A further object of the invention is to provide at one end of theheating unit an integral well or like receptacle constructed in part ofthe exhaust portion of the flue system, said well being adapted tosupport removably the burner element for directing through said well andinto the flue system a flame or heated gases for circulationtherethrough.

A still further object of the invention is to utilize the spent gases topreheat the incoming combustion air, thereby not only reducingmaterially the iinal or discharge temperature of said gases, but alsoenhancing the thermal efficiency of the unit.

Another object is to aord a substantially uniform distribution of theheat throughout the kettle.

Still another object of the invention is to mount in a novel manner apair of cover elements for sealing the top of the kettle.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided in the kettlereceptacle a removable heating unit comprising a system of longitudinalflues including, for example, an intermediate flue designed to receiveat one end a directed flame or heated gases from a burner element, andreturn flues, communicating at the opposite end with said intermediateiiue, having exhaust portions at the burner end which form the sidewalls, and, preferably, an end of an open-top well or terminal unit.This well is completed by a suitable bottom element which' supportsremovably the with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the novel melting kettle.

Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof with the two kettle covers in position toclose the top of the Same.

Fig. 3 is a similar View with the covers removed.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the kettle.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section therethrough with the burner well coveropen.

Figs. 6 and 7 are transverse sectional views taken respectively on thelines @-6, I-'I, Fig. 5 of the drawings, and looking in the direction ofthe arrows, the burner being removed in Fig. 7.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view `of the removable heating unit which' isdesigned to t within the receptacle for material to be melted, a portionof an outer wall of the terminal unit thereof being broken away. l

Referring to the drawings, I designates a metal shell or more or lesselongated receptacle with bottom II and open at the top I2. The latteris designed to be closed by a pair of covers I3 and I, as willhereinafter be more fully set forth, when the apparatus is not in usevand by the one cover I3 only during the melting operation. The kettleis carried by a suitable frame-work I5 which may be provided with pairsof handles I6 and Il at its opposite ends for manually transporting thekettle from place to place, as required. A spigot I8 is provided at thebottom of the kettle at one end thereof for discharging molten materialfrom the receptacle.

The melting kettle herein disclosed is of the type wherein the heatingunit is designed to be totally immersed in molten material and to bebodily removable from the kettle for convenient cleaning, particularlyof the external surfaces of theheating flues thereof. It comprisesessentially 'a flue portion consisting, in the particular embodimentshown by way of example, of three flues adapted to be disposedlongitudinally of the receptacle lil, the intermediate ue 2G beingdesigned to receive a directed flame or hot rgases from a burner 2lthrough its open inner end 22, while its outer end 23 communicatesthrough a T-connection 24 with two adjacent parallel return flues 25vand 26. In adwith the iiues, the same being located at the end of thereceptacle opposite the spigot end.

This member is constructed in part of the return flues which formdouble-walled sides 2'I and 28 thereof, preferably converging to closethe terminal member at one end, the respective converging ends of eachbeing sealed. A bottom closing plate 29 is attached over the bottom ofthe sides and, together with an end plate 30, provides an open-topchamber or Well 3| which is designed to receive and support the burner2| when it is desired to operate the kettle for melting materialtherein.

Burner 2| rests then on the bottom plate 29 and is aligned with theintermediate flue 2D to direct a llame and/or heated gases into the saidflue 20 through the opening 22 thereof and through a registering opening32 in the plate 30. Further openings 33 and 34, respectively, areprovided in plate 30 to register with the juxtaposed outlets of therespective flues 25 and 26. These nues continue then in expanded form asthe side wall members 2'I and 28 which provide intermediate ducts orchambers 35 and 36, respectively, for the waste gases. These gases arecaused to circulate through the respective chambers, being directed bymeans of horizontally disposed baffles 31 and 38 and vertically disposedbaiiles 3'I and 38 in their respective ducts. The said ducts in turn areclosed over at the top and terminate in outlets 39 and 4D for finaldischarge of the products, extending to this end above the sides and adeck 4I integral with the receptacle at the burner end of the kettle.

By this expedient, the return flues are in effect continued to provide aheating chamber not only for the purpose of assisting in the melting ofmaterial in the receptacle and for securing more uniform distribution ofthe heat throughout the kettle, but for pre-heating the combustion airwhich enters through the top of chamber 3| to supply the burner 2|.Moreover, the ues and terminal member constitute a single unit which isreadily removable from the receptacle as by grasping the handle 45attached to the T-con nection 24. This handle may serve also, inconnection with latch member 46 pivoted to the juxtaposed end wall ofthe receptacle, to retain the melting unit within the receptacle againstthe buoyant action of the molten material when the bail of the handle islocked under the latch 46 as indicated in Fig. of the drawings.

When the kettle is not in use, it is desirable to cover the top of thesame, generally first removing the burner by lifting it out of the Well3|. To this end, the cover I3 is provided and is hingedly attached atits inner end to a bracket 50 which is secured to the wall 30 of theterminal member, a pin 5| serving to connect the hinge portions. Cover I3 carries also a safety valve I3.

When it is desired to open the kettle, as for charging the same withmaterial to be melted, cover I3 may be swung upwardly about the hingepin 5| to the position indicated by the broken lines, Fig. l of thedrawings, as by grasping the handles 52 provided thereon. In thisposition it may be further held by means of a chain 53 attached to theburner end wall 55 and removably secured to said cover. When the heatingunit is to be removed, hinge pin 5I is knocked out to separate the coverfrom the bracket 56 and the former is then temporarily laid aside.

Similarly, the cover I4 is removable so that the top of well or chamber3| and the outlets 39 2,290,742 i i j dition, there is a terminal memberassociatedv and 48 of the flues may be exposed. This is effectedconveniently by attaching rods 60 and 6I at the sides of the receptacleat its burner end, the rods being secured with their outer ends turneddownwardly over the burner end of the kettle and with said rodsdisplaced from the kettle wall. The lower edges of the cover I4 areprovided with perforated lugs 62 and 63 at the respective inner ends,the lugs being designed to receive the rods 60 and 6I and to ride overthe same. The cover is thereby retained on the kettle but is permittedto be removed from the top of chamber 3| as by sliding it outwardly andthen dropping it downwardly over the burner end of the receptacle, inwhich position it hangs on the rod ends, as indicated in the broken-lineposition, Fig. 1 of the drawings. Handles 64 are attached to the top ofthe cover I4 to assist in its removal.

The entire heating unit is arranged to be displaced somewhat from thebottom of the receptacle as by means of a foot or like member 65attached to the bottom of the T-connection 24 at the end opposite theburner, while at the burner end a further support may be afforded as bythe terminal unit. Thus, the outer plates of the side walls may beprovided along the top with a turned-over edge 66 which fits over anupturned rim 68 of the receptacle or rather the deck portion 4I thereof.The t between the same is made sufficiently close to effect also asubstantial seal thereat.

I claim:

1. Removable tank heater, comprising a burner, an open-top terminalmember, a flue leading from said member and flue elements for thedischarge thereinto of products of combustion from the burner carried bysaid terminal member, the latter including a pair of exhaust ductsreceiving the products discharged by the ilue elements and havingrespective outlets at the top for final discharge of the products ofcombustion, said exhaust ducts constituting the side walls of the saidterminal member, and a closure at the bottom of the member affording asupport for the burner,

2. Removable tank heater, comprising a. burner, an open-top terminalmember, a, flue leading from said member and flue elements for thedischarge thereinto of products of combustion from the burner carried bysaid terminal member, the latter including a pair of exhaust ductsconverging to the rear of the member to close the same thereat, adaptedto receive the products discharged by the flue elements and havingrespective outlets at the top for final discharge of the products ofcombustion, said exhaust ducts constituting the side walls of the saidterminal member, and a closure for the bottom of the member affording asupport for the burner.

3. Removable tank heater, comprising a burner, an open-top terminalmember, a ue leading from said member and flue elements for thedischarge thereinto of products of combustion from the burnercarried bysaid terminal member, the latter including a pair of exhaust ductsconverging to the rear of the member to close the same thereat, adaptedto receive the products discharged by the flue elements and havingrespective outlets at the top for final discharge of the products ofcombustion, said exhaust ducts constituting the side walls of the saidterminal member, a plate closing the front of the member having a ueopening at the bottom for said iiue leading from the terminal member,and a plate closing the bottom of the member affording a support for theburner.

4. Removable tank heater, comprising a burner, an open-top terminalmember, a flue leading from said member and flue elements for thedischarge thereinto of products of combustion from the burner carried bysaid terminal member, the latter including a pair of exhaust ductsprovided with horizontally disposed baffle elements therein andreceiving the products discharged by the flue elements and havingrespective outlets at the top for final discharge of the products ofcombustion, said exhaust ducts constituting the side Walls of the saidterminal burner, an open-top terminal member, a ue leading from saidmember and flue elements for the discharge thereinto of products ofcombustion from the burner carried by said terminal member, the latterincluding a pair of exhaust ducts receiving the products discharged bythe ue elements and having respective outlets at the top fo/r finaldischarge of the products of combustion, said exhaust ducts constitutingthe side Walls of the said terminal member and the upper portion of thesaid Walls being bent outwardly and downwardly to afford a support forthe member and a seal thereat with the tank, and a closure for thebottom of the member aiordmember, and a closure for the bottom of the l5`ing a support for the burner.

member aording a. support for the burner.

5. Removable tank heater, comprising a WALTER c. ELzE.

